newsandviewsjb

NEWS&VIEWS by Jacqueline Bennett

Posts from the “Sports” Category

Boy Bullied for Appearance, Speech Invited to New England Patriots Game

Posted on December 15, 2013

Here’s another reason to cheer for the New England Patriots today as they take on the Miami Dolphins. For anyone who missed the story on the Ellen Show last week, young Danny Keefe who was born with a brain hemorrage and has a speech impediment yet defied the odds to not only walk but run, was being teased at school because of his appearance and the way he speaks. Danny has a favorite jacket and likes to wear it with a tie and fedora hat to classes. Sadly, some children at his school bullied Danny teasing him about his speech and wearing a suit. and snatching away his hat. Danny is the water coach for the Bridgewater Badgers youth football team in Massachusetts and…

Categories: Character, Leadership, NEWS, Sports

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Sunny Skies Grace 77th Annual Manchester Road Race

Posted on November 29, 2013

Write-up & Photos by Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb It was a good day to bundle up as sunny skies but c-h-i-l-l-y temperatures graced the 77th running of the Thanksgiving Day, Manchester Road Race on November 28, 2013 in downtown Manchester, Connecticut. Some 15,000 runners and walkers filled Main Street for the 10:00 a.m. start of the race. As usual, spectators lined the 4.748 mile course in numbers that easily rival turnouts for events in much larger cities. Sam Chelanga of Kenya took first place with a time of 21:31 and coming in first for the women was another Kenyan, Alice Kamunya with a time of 25:07. In the wake of the Boston Marathon bombing last spring, beefed up security was apparent with uniformed Manchester police…

Categories: NEWS, Road races, Sports

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Tom Brady & New England Patriots Nail-Biter Victory Over Manning and Broncos

Posted on November 25, 2013

By Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb Clearly, the highlight of Tom (could he be any cuter) Brady’s post Patriots/Broncos November 24 game press conference, posted on the New England Patriots website, is his broad smile as he says what sounds like -“Jackie”- when calling on a reporter in the room. Okay – now that I have that out of the way … What a night last night. Brady and the Patriots came up with a 34-31 win at frigid Foxborough but one that had Patriots’ fans holding their collective breath up until the final play, a field goal from Stephen Gostkowski giving the Pats the victory in overtime. From that bleak first half and the frustration of quarterback Brady’s preeminent rival, Peyton Manning, being so far…

Categories: NEWS, Sports

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Thanksgiving Manchester Road Race Walk-In Registration Today

Posted on November 23, 2013

Write-up & Photos by Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb The only walk-in registration for this year’s Manchester Road Race will be held today during a Sports Expo at Bennet Academy from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The academy is located at 1151 Main Street in downtown Manchester, Connecticut. The 77th running of the Manchester Road Race held annually on Thanksgiving Day will be on November 28. Start time is 10:00 a.m. in front of St.James Church along Main Street. According to the road race website, 14,000 runners have signed up and initial online registration is closed. It will only be reopened if the maximum participation number of 15,000 is not reached by the close of today’s Sports Expo. No evening registration or race day registration will…

Categories: NEWS, Road races, Sports

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Wicked Sweet Win – Boston Red Sox 2013 World Series Champs

Posted on October 31, 2013

By Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb It was a wicked sweet win for the Boston Red Sox who clinched the 2013 World Series last night in Fenway Park – the first series championship won at home since 1918, the Babe Ruth era. It would be eighty-six years before the Sox would win subsequent world series titles but those were on the road. Last night’s victory could not have been any sweeter for Red Sox Nation fans, and for the team that became the rallying point for “Boston Strong” in the aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombings in April. The Sox came back from low standing early in the season to make it into the world series and now have taken the title, representing the resiliency displayed…

Categories: American history, Major League Baseball, NEWS, Sports, World Series

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Where’s the Husky Blue Blood? New Coach,New QB & Cautious Optimism for UConn Football…

Posted on October 11, 2013

Commentary by Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb                 I have never understood the mentality of folks who only support a winning team. To me, your team is your team; you turn out to back it regardless of the win-loss record. Can it be frustrating? Sure. I’ve mentioned before my dad used to sit with what he called his ‘crying towel’ watching televised Boston Red Sox games at a time when the Sox seemed to be in a perpetual losing streak. Nevertheless, he never faltered in supporting his team – he watched week in and week out, attended games when possible, applauded what they did well and analyzed what they did wrong – but he was always in their corner. Perhaps…

Categories: college football, NEWS, Sports

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Fierce Faced UCONN Husky Has No Bite

Posted on September 29, 2013

Commentary by Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb After what is being described as the shellacking the University of Connecticut football team took yesterday against the Buffalo Bulls it’s time to say it, so far, the fierce face Husky has no bite. Oh, I wish it wasn’t so. Despite making clear my distaste for the change to a mean face Husky logo a few months ago, I also made it clear that my loyalty remained with my Alma Mater’s teams. I would have liked nothing better than for UConn football to be touting a 4-0 season and pointing their fierce face helmets smugly at those of us who opposed the new look. Instead, things seem to be going from bad to worse, 0-4 for the fierce faced…

Categories: Changes, college football, college logos, NEWS, Sports

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UConn Nearly Pulls Off Stunner Against Nationally Ranked Michigan

Posted on September 22, 2013

By Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb Two thousand more seats had to be set up at East Hartford’s Rentschler Field last night, where the University of Connecticut nearly pulled off a stunner against the nationally ranked Michigan Wolverines. Husky fans arrived early, made it clear whose house the teams were playing in and stayed to the end. Yankees MLB standout Derek Jeter, who grew up in Michigan, was in attendance and former UConn basketball and NBA star Ray Allen came out to support his Alma mater – he stood on the sidelines with the UConn bench. Yes, it was big game. Blue & white fans did hold our collective breath but not for the anticipated reason (see previous post) that our guys might get creamed, rather in…

Categories: acheivements, college football, NEWS, Sports

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Hold Your Breath Husky Fans- UConn Football Faces 15th Ranked Michigan Tonight

Posted on September 21, 2013

Commentary by Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb This in my kind of weekend – a University of Connecticut football game on Saturday followed by a New England Patriot’s game Sunday. Not to mention the Boston Red Sox clinching the American League East title in a 6-3 success over the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday evening. That said – Husky fans will likely hold their collective breaths tonight when UConn football, winless thus far this season, faces 15th-ranked Michigan on a national stage. The sold out game is slated to be broadcast at 8 p.m. on ABC. It is an understatement to say that Michigan has a long tradition as a football powerhouse and from viewing televised clips, their players look to be at least twice the size…

Categories: big time football, college football, NEWS, Sports

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Tavern Trot Raises More Than $100,000 For Pediatric Cancer Research

Posted on September 17, 2013

Article & Photos by Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb  In its seventh year the Tavern Trot has reached a milestone now having raised more than $100,000 for pediatric cancer research. Hosted by the Union Street Tavern in historic Windsor, Connecticut on Sunday, September 15, the 3.5 mile trail and road race benefited Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation. A special participant was the grandfather of the little girl who started the foundation – he took part just two months after receiving a lung transplant. “This $100,000 is enough to pay for a year of a research project,” said Jason “Jay” Scott, the father of little Alexandra “Alex” Scott who started Alex’s Lemonade Stand outside her Connecticut home to help other children fighting the disease before she lost her…

Categories: Cancer research, NEWS, pediatric cancer, Road races, Sports

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